Jesus ascended into Heaven. As far as his ministry on earth was concerned it was ‘mission accomplished’. The mission to evangelise throughout the world is now over to us. No pressure then! The task of passing on Jesus’ message to an increasingly secular world seems an almost impossible task. The difficulties of evangelising are compounded by the fact that we are not very comfortable with the idea of talking about God and for very good reason. People who stop in the street or hand us biblical tracts can come across as eccentric or even irritating. Those who walk the streets wearing billboards or preaching through loud hailers can be seen more as religious salesmen than serious missionaries. Cleary there are plenty of pitfalls for us to avoid. Bringing God into the conversation at the local pub can make our friends feel uncomfortable, bored or patronised. After all, who are we to assume the role of ‘teacher’ when our friends might know an awful lot more than we think? If our brand of evangelisation isn’t clever enough we are in grave danger of pushing people away. Who wants to be lectured or preached at?

There probably isn’t a best way of evangelising, but one or two things are for sure. Christianity isn’t a listof statements; it’s more about how we live. If we are genuinely good people, someone, somewhere, will want to be like us. The    second thing for sure is that if eventually somebody asks us about our religion we will only be able to answer well if we know our stuff! That’s a good case for reading our bibles cover to cover. Knowing what we are supposed to be about, and living by it equips us to evangelise when the right time occurs. Perhaps not such an impossible mission after all!

No Jackpot Winner

11 Match 3s won €91 each

Next week’s jackpot is €19,000

No Jackpot Winner

14 Match 3s won €72 each

Next week’s jackpot is €14,000

Hayley Hannah Horohan, Lime Tree Avenue.

Rory James Sreenan, Summerhill.

Lisa Power, O’Moore Place.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

It might seem odd to our ears that ‘commandment’ and ‘love’ should be spoken in the same breath. After all, love is supposed to be unconditional and instinctive, to our modern ears love doesn’t seem much to do with rules. Can we really be commanded to love?

On closer inspection, it’s interesting to note that love has many rules, and what is more interesting is that the rules actually evolve out of love. There are all sorts of rules that we have drawn up to protect the love we have for each other. If we love our partners we won’t rush off and have an affair. If we love our children we will feed clothe, nurture and protect them. If we love our parents we will care for them in their old age as they once cared for us. If we love our neighbours we will be ready to help when help is needed.  

Being human it is all too easy to break the rules. We let each other down all the time. We can be unfaithful or inattentive to our partners. We can disappoint our parents and neglect our children. We can become hardened to the appeals or our brothers and sisters in third world countries. When we break the rules, we take a step away from the love we once shared. Sadly we can destroy the love we once treasured.

“If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love,” says Jesus, but being human, it is all too easy for us to break the commandments and step outside of God’s love. God never removes his love; we simply choose to turn our backs on him by making poor choices.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” We are commanded to love, not by conjuring some kind of artificial loving feelings, but by adopting the same rules Jesus himself lived by, humility, servitude, dying to self ….. the rules from which real love flourishes.

No Jackpot Winner

21 Match 3s won €48 each

Next week’s jackpot is €18,000

No Jackpot Winner

8 Match 3s won €125 each

Next week’s jackpot is €13,000

Clodagh Elizabeth McKenna, Marian Avenue.

Finn Jim O’Connell, Maryborough Village.

Keziah Niamh Harris, Rathevan Heights.

Ella Grace Carroll, Blossom Court.

Dylan Lee William Conroy, Carmody Way.

Billy Michael Watson, The Poplars.

Amanda Rose Sheehan, Lakeglen.

Janelle Alasla Nkechinyere Mukiza, Stradbrook.

“Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.”

To be told we can’t achieve anything on our own without being part of the vine might go against the grain for those of us who want to think of ourselves as individuals, but there’s a better way of approaching the parable of the vine. The trick is to think in terms of ‘belonging’.

To be told that if we are branches that bear fruit we will be nurtured, but as branches that bear no fruit we will be thrown away and burnt might fill us with fear. For those of us who resist being motivated by fear, the trick is to approach the parable not with the fear of final judgement, but as a valuable lesson in discipleship.

Discipleship and belonging simply add up to getting things done in a  framework of love and support. To drift through lift not achieving anything is nothing short of a tragedy. We don’t need any grim reaper to throw us on a scrap heap; we have effectively brought about our own fate.  As Christians we need to impact the world around us. Perhaps we already think that we are doing our best to make this happen, but are we? Human nature is proud; we are opinionated and often closed to new ideas. Often we don’t imagine that others can help us to be better, and when they do, it can come as a big surprise. Those who improve their lives are often those who listen to others and accept help and advice. Clearly, being part of a group is important. Being part of a group where we can be helped and where we can help others is essential for spiritual growth. As part of the vine, we are Gods’ people, helping each other to grow and more significantly, placing ourselves to be nourished and nurtured by God our maker.